One of the New York Yankees’ top priorities this offseason is re-signing Cody Bellinger, who accounted for 29 of the team’s home runs last season and once again played Gold Glove-caliber defense.
Even though Bellinger is an almost perfect fit for the Yankees, a return to the Bronx isn’t a done deal for New York. Coming off a solid season, it makes sense that the 30-year-old would want to test the free agent market.
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MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch recently put together a case for why Bellinger may not go to New York in 2026.
“Bellinger has already proven he can thrive in major markets. He succeeded in Los Angeles, rebuilt himself in Chicago and blended seamlessly into New York. That track record creates confidence for any team pursuing him,” wrote Hoch.
“The Yankees also have needs in other areas, and they figure to have plenty of competition for a player with left-handed pop and a plus defender who can handle center field. It might take the highest bid to bring Bellinger back.”
Aug 13, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) looks up after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
(Hoch also made a compelling case for why Bellinger will re-sign with the Yankees here.)
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Not to strike fear into the hearts of the Yankee faithful, but Hoch makes plenty of really good points in his argument.
Hal Steinbrenner already has some interesting comments about payroll this offseason, so it does beg the question about how much the Yankees would be willing to spend to bring back Bellinger. Plus, at this point in his career, what is Bellinger seeking the most out of potential suitors?
Speaking of payroll, Hoch also brings up a great point that the Yankees have other holes on their roster, so spending all of their available funds to bring back one player wouldn’t automatically make New York a contender.
Overall, New York should make bringing Bellinger back a top priority this winter. He slashed .272/.334/.480, and Yankee Stadium’s short porch perfectly plays into the left-hander’s power swing.
But the front office shouldn’t wait for Bellinger to leave; they should try to bring him back, but still be preparing for the possibility that the veteran could sign somewhere else in 2026.